Thursday, February 19, 2004

ELEKTRA MOVIE UPDATE

According to Variety, Rob Bowman is in discussions to direct Elektra, the movie spinning off from Daredevil and starring Jennifer Garner.

Bowman's credits include The X-Files feature film and Reign of Fire.

The Elektra film is written by Zak Penn, who worked on X2. The story will include The Hand and Stick, sources have confirmed for The Continuum.

During The Continuum's recent visit to Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige described the film's villains.

"She doesn't have the sort of spectacular, over-the-top, costumed, made-up mutated villains," he said. "She has what we believe to be very scary, very sleek, very organized and very deadly adversaries.

"The tone of the film will be fun and adventurous, but the villains always fit their heroes. And Elektra doesn't wear a mask or hide her face. It will be unique villans that I think people will recognize and be very excited to see."

Feige said that, similar to most second films featuring Marvel characters, Elektra's costume will probably be tweaked from the one she wore in Daredevil.

Mark Steven Johnson, who wrote and directed Daredevil, and his partner, Gary Foster, who produced Daredevil, will be producers on Elektra. Johnson and Foster are also working on the Ghost Rider film. Marvel's Avi Arad is also producing.

Production is expected to start in May, timed to coincide with Garner's hiatus from Alias.

DEVIL'S DUE FOR MAY

Devil's Due Publishing has released its solicitation information for May.

MUTANT X UPDATE

ADV Films has announced a March 3 release for Mutant X: Season 1, Discs 10-11, a two-disc set collecting episodes from the first season of the syndicated television series.

Episodes, all presented in widescreen format, include:

"Nothing to Fear" (Episode 119): A powerful psionic mutant uses his mind-control powers to punish the Mutant X team because he believes they are responsible for his wife's death.

"Deadly Desire" (Episode 120): A dangerously seductive mutant casts a powerful love spell on Brennan, putting him under her control.

"Dancing on the Razor" (Episode 121): A journalist working undercover threatens to expose the reality of Mutant X to the unknowing world.

"A Breed Apart" (Episode 122): The Mutant X team faces its biggest challenge yet: the super-mutant Gabriel, a sociopath who seeks to destroy both Mutant X and Genomex.

Extras include: an extensive tour of the new Sanctuary set with John Shea; an image gallery; Adam's Notes‹The Double Helix; Original TV promos; and ADV previews.

In other Mutant X news,Tribune Entertainment has released information about "Divided Loyalties," the episode scheduled to air in syndication the week of Feb. 23.

Here's how the episode is described:

"Brennan (Victor Webster) is forced to return to his criminal past when Mutant X discovers that his old partner is involved in stealing secrets from the Dominion."

The episode is written by Elizabeth Keyishian and David S. Wilks and is directed by Richard Flower.

Look for more Mutant X news on Monday here in The Continuum.

SMALLVILLE UPDATE

The WB has released nine images from "Crisis," the episode of Smallville scheduled to air on Wednesday, March 3,

Here's how the network describes the episode:

"Clark (Tom Welling) receives a panicked call from Lana (Kristin Kreuk) and hears a gunshot before the line goes dead, but when he arrives at the Talon he is stunned to discover she is alive and well. Clark realizes the phone call came from the next day and that Adam (guest star Ian Somerhalder) is the one who will shoot Lana. Upon taking Clark to the Luthorcorp lab where Adam was being kept, Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) finds all of the staff murdered and suspects his father (John Glover) is behind it."

Ken Biller directed the episode, which was written by Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders.

CLAYPOOL COMICS FOR JUNE

BRIEFLY

According to Variey, Liam Neeson will play Ra's al Ghul and Morgan Freeman will play Lucius Fox in the new Batman movie.

The new trailer for The Punisher, due in theaters on Friday, will be shown on Access Hollywood on Thursday. Look for more on The Punisher here on Friday.

SSS Comics, publisher of Eclipse & Vega, have announced two more titles to its roster: The Mr. Beat Show from Chris Yambar and The Ultimate Danger Comics Collection: Post Humorous from Bill Jankowski and Mark Gallivan.

"I am trying to build SSS Comics into a place where funny books are funny again," said SSS Comics president Saul Colt. "And with the addition of these two books we now publish three very funny, funny books."

Coming Friday: Punisher movie news -- and much more!!!

COMICS CONTINUUM BACK ISSUES

In case you missed The Continuum's recent coverage, here are some links: